Strands of Truth is a thriller that is unique in its setting and characters and all the twists and turns it takes. Like other Coble books, I was only able to put a few pieces of the puzzle together a little bit at a time and what a puzzle this was.

There was family drama a plenty and also a lot about some sea farming that was very interesting to me. I am not a sea food eater but I found the heroine's job fascinating.

Harper is a woman who is wanting a family. She has only glimpsed pieces of it here and there and that wasn't anything to speak of. Her mother died when she was born and she has spent many years looking for her father. She is taken under the wing by a man named Oliver who eventually becomes her mentor. Trouble is, he already has two children, Ridge and Willow, who are less than friendly to her.

Ridge has always resented Harper since his dad took her under his wing and now his dad has plans for the both of them in a new business venture. Oliver really wants Ridge and Harper to get along.

There is a lot of moving pieces in this story. From Harper's need for a family to Ridge's need to discredit her and in the background someone is after Harper for a reason. This was a hard to put down read and I liked how the author used DNA in a big way in her story. Very interesting.

I received a copy of this novel from the publisher. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.

She's done it again! Colleen Coble is that author you know you can count on. Her writing is consistently amazing. This book follows that description perfectly. I loved the characters and their back stories were unique and interesting. The setting is beachy balmy and makes you want to visit, kinda. The plot moved along well and kept me interested the entire time. I didn't feel like I knew who-done-it early in the book either, which is a huge plus! I don't like it when you can guess the end at the beginning. This is not one of those books. It is however, a book that makes you not want to clean you house, not want to go to bed, not want to watch tv... I had to just keep reading! That's the sign of a great book. You're not going to want to miss this amazing story. The faith aspects are minimal, maybe to the point of wanting some more. They're definitely not in your face at all. I gave this book 4 stars. I received a copy from Celebrate Lit. I was in no way required to write a positive review. All thoughts are my own.

This is a fantastic romantic suspense novel. I loved the twists and turns throughout the book. I really enjoyed learning a little bit about the marine animals and mollusks and the sea silk. It is so interesting to see what uses DNA testing can have in this world. Sad to know it can be used for evil as well as for good. I loved the characters and the use of going back to the past to learn about some of the story. I received a copy of this book from Celebratelit for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

I had a real problem while reading this book. There were other things I needed to be doing, so I kept thinking, "I'll finish this next chapter and then put the book down so I can move on to something else." I would get to the end of that chapter and just couldn't stop there. "OK, I'll go one more chapter." Well, I guess you get the idea. Truth is, I read the book in one sitting because there just wasn't a good stopping place until the very last page!

I have read several books by Colleen Coble, but this just might be my favorite. The suspense was at a great level. There were hints along the way that started to put some of the pieces together but never enough to spoil the story. The characters were interesting and well-developed. And there was a lot to be learned about a variety of things -- like DNA testing, marine biology, sea silk. All in all, it was a great story.

Thanks to Celebrate Lit for providing a copy of this book. I was happy to share my own thoughts in this review.

Colleen Coble never disappoints with her action packed suspense, and her newest delivery meets her high standards. This is a story you can't read slowly as the action builds with every page.

Harper Taylor has grown up as a loner having been shuffled from one foster family to another until she finally is taken under Oliver Taylor's wing as a runaway teenager. He pours his love for the ocean and its gifts into Harper and she becomes fascinated with marine biology. But she still longs for a family of her own. When a DNA test reveals a half-sister, her life changes because suddenly she and her half-sister find themselves unknowingly in danger.

I particularly enjoyed the generational research that Harper and Ridge, Oliver's son, had to do in order to trace their way back to Harper and Annabelle's unknown father. Following the threads to put the puzzle together was fascinating. The slowly developing relationship between Harper and Ridge along with her new relationship with Annabelle and her sons added a sweet dimension. Coble's characters were interesting and likable; and this, along with some interesting settings, added to a mystery that took the entire book to untangle.

**I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions are mine alone. I was not compensated for this review. (less)